Gerrit Velthuizen, 84, of Sandy Hook, died peacefully, at home, April 10. He was born in Amsterdam, November 14, 1928, son of Andries Gerardus Velthuizen and Herina Johanna Velthuizen.

He survived the Nazi occupation during World War II as a young teenager. At age 18, he joined the Merchant Marine and traveled the world for the next three years.

On June 9, 1951, he married his sweetheart, Pieterje “Nellie” Hompert. 

He worked at the shipyards in Amsterdam Harbor repairing ships. In 1957, his sister, Lena Weyerstrass, and her husband Rens, sponsored them to come to the United States to stay with them in Newtown. His first job was at Rens’ Bakery in Newtown, and then he worked in Bridgeport for a few months. From there he worked for the Plastic Molding on Glen Road in Sandy Hook. The company was bought out by Hubbell Plastics and moved to South Main Street in Newtown, where he worked for 20 years.

The Velthuizens lived in Sandy Hook for many years. In 1978, they moved to Aiken, S.C., where he worked at Thermo-Disc. In 1987 he was transferred to Mansfield, Ohio, where they lived for four years until he retired. In 1991 they moved to Heritage Village in Southbury, later buying a home in the lakeside area of Southbury. In 2012 Mr Velthuizen moved in with his daughter and son-in-law in Sandy Hook. 

He was a member of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company for many years and retired as a life member when he was 82. He was a fire policeman and also directed traffic for Newtown schools for three years.

His daughter, Hermina Walker, and her husband George, of Sandy Hook; son Henry Velthuizen, and his wife Barbara, of Summerfield, Fla.; grandson Michael Pressmar of Sandy Hook, granddaughter Juli DeWitt, and husband Ian, of Sandy Hook; sisters Lena Weyerstrass of Kissimmee, Fla., Tony Bagmeyer, and husband Henk, of Newtown, and Beppie deJong Velthuizen and Rita Velthuizen, both of the Netherlands; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews of the US and the Netherlands survive Mr Velthuizen. His wife and five siblings predeceased him. 

Many thanks to Joan, his hospice nurse, and Jane, his hospice aide, and to son-in-law George for taking care of him; and to his dear friends, Marie and Lee Canfield of Sandy Hook.

No calling hours or services are scheduled. Arrangements are by Carpino Funeral Home, Southbury.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, PO Box 783, Sandy Hook CT  06482; or Visiting Nurse Services/Hospice at Home, 84 Oxford Road, Oxford CT  06478.